Guitar music

Music Critic Milo Miles thinks Bahamian guitarist Joseph Spence is a gospel-blues great, one who hasn't gotten the recognition he deserves.

Chicago-based blues guitarist Buddy Guy. Eric Clapton has called his "by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive." Guy was born in Louisiana, son of a sharecropper. He moved to Chicago in the late fifties and played with all the greats...including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Junior Wells. Guy's now having a comeback. Guy has a new album, "Feels Like Rain." (Silvertone), which follows his Grammy-winning release, "Damn Right I've Got the Blues."

Pizzareli has played with musicians as diverse as Benny Goodman, Zoot Sims, Bud Freeman, Dionne and the Belmonts, as well as his son, John Pizzarelli. He peforms a few tunes for a live Fresh Air audience.

Guitarist Ry Cooder. In the 60s he collaborated with Taj Mahal, Captain Beefheart, the Rolling Stones and became known for his fingerpicking and slide playing. In the 70s he went solo -- putting together ten albums that explored American roots music including blues, vintage jazz, and gospel.

A concert and interview with singer/songwriter/guitarist Jules Shear. He was with the "Funky Kings," and later, "Jules & The Polar Bears." The songs he has written have been recorded by The Bangles, Cyndi Lauper, and many others. He has a new album out this month, "The Great Puzzle." (on Polydor).

Jazz musician Sonny Sharrock. He's been called America's leading free jazz guitarist. His new album is called "Ask the Ages." (It's on Axiom records).

Milo Miles reviews the music of two African guitarists: Diblo Dibala and Zanzibar, he heads a band called Les Têtes Brulées.

Musicians Tom and Ian Spanic. Together, the pair form the rock and roll band, The Spanic Boys. The band plays a country-twang influenced type of rock and they just released their first album, also called "The Spanic Boys." It's on Rounder Records.

Studio concert with guitarist Howard Alden, trombonist Dan Barrett and bassist Frank Tate. They are members of the ABQ (Alden Barrett Quintet) which records for Concord Records. They play music inspired by the small jazz groups of the 30's and 40's.

Jazz guitarist Jim Hall. In the 50s, Hall was part of the West Coast jazz scene. Several years later he was touring South America with Ella Fitzgerald when the Bossa Nova craze hit. That music's been a lasting influence on Hall. In the 70s, Hall recorded with free-jazz player Ornette Coleman and made several albums with jazz's best bassists. In all, Hall's made more than 100 albums, his latest, with his quartet, is called "All Across The City." It's on the Concord jazz label.